Water flow silencing means

ABSTRACT

A water flow silencing means arranged to provide an adjustable back pressure to ensure water is delivered at an acceptable rate but without causing pipe noises normally associated with the use of valves or taps connected to high pressure water supply.

UNITED STATES PATENTS O United States Patent 1151 3,704,857

Claridge 1 51 Dec. 5, 1972 1541 WATER FLOW SILENCING MEANS 2,318,236 s/1943 Layton ..137/444 x 2 Inventor: George Henry Cl i 9 Easther 2,579,855 12/1951 POCkCl CI 81 ..l37/525 Crescent Kew, Dunedin New 3,131,717 5/1964 Gratzmuller ..25i/l27 X FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS [22] Wed: Sept 1970 696,609 9/1940 Germany ..251/351 [21] App1.No.: 74,455 16,305 10/1890 Great Britain ..137/437 52 US. Cl. ..251/118, 181/36, 137/217 Klinksiek 511 1111. c1 ..Fl6k 47/10 Y-" and Stem [58] Field of Search ..251/118, 127, 351, 346;

181/36; 137/217, 442, 444, 436, 437, 525; A S RACT 138/43 46 A water flow silencing means arranged to provide an Reterences Cited adjustable back pressure to ensure water is delivered at an acceptable rate but without causing pipe noises normallyassociated with the use of valves or taps connected to high pressure water supply.

342,962 6/1886 11111 ..2s1/127x 1,913,274 6/1933 Hayden ..251/351x 6Claims,3Drawing Figures if T1" 7 PATENTEDDEC 5|912 .Fie.

1 WATER FLOW SILENCING MEANS This invention relates to water flow silencing means.

In many instances the delivery of water at high-pressure causes considerable noise both as a result of the passage of water through pipes and the delivery of the water through a tap or other valve. This problem is one encountered with the valve means used to fill domestic flushing cisterns or other feed tanks. However, the problem is not limited to this sphere, and the present invention is intended for application with all water outlets where noise may cause nuisance or inconvenience to the user or other occupant in the dwelling or buildmg. v

It is an object of the present invention to provide a water flow silencing means which will go a considerable way to reducing the above-mentioned disadvantage or will at least provide the public with a useful choice over existing water flow silencing means.

Accordingly, the invention consists in a water flow silencing means comprising a conduit means through which a flow of water is delivered and abutment means associated with the outlet from said conduit will impinge to generate back pressure in the conduit.

More particularly the invention comprises a conduit through which a flow of water is delivered, a cap member fixed over the outlet from said conduit but defining an annular chamber about the lower part of said conduit, resilient abutment means in the base of said cap to normally close the outlet from said conduit, but upon a force of water impinging thereagainst to move to a position to allow a flow of water into said annular chamber, and outlet apertures through the wall of said cap member from the upper part of said annular chamber.

One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawingsin which FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation through the silencing means according to the present invention FIG. 2 is a plan view of a silencer according to the present invention, and p r v FIG. 3 is a detailed sectional elevation showing the flow of water through the silencer in use.

In the preferred form of the invention a water silencer 1 which has been designed particularly for use in associated with a float valve in a water cistern or water tank is constructed as follows:

A conduit member 2 for example formed from a simple plastics material has a restricted upper end 3 with an external thread 4 adapted to engage within the body of a float operated valve arranged to control the supply of water, for example, to a water cistern or tank. The conduit 2 has a thicker portion or boss 5, externally threaded and positioned up from the lower or outlet end 6.

A cap member 7 has the upper end 8 internally threaded and arranged to engage with the threaded boss on the conduit 2. The walls of the cap and the walls of the conduit below the threaded boss 5 define an annular chamber 9. I

The base of the cap incorporates a protuberance 10 which in use supports a resilient abutment washer 11, for example, formed from a suitable rubber material. The washer normally engages with the outlet 6 from the conduit 2. The pressure between the outlet and the washer can be adjusted by tightening or loosening the cap 7 onthe threaded boss 5. Once the cap has been correctly adjusted for the water pressure inthe mains a lock nut 12 may be tightened in'place to ensure the positive location of the cap.

A plurality of outlet apertures 13 are provided in the walls of the cap towards the top. of the annular chamber 9.

A skirt 14 is fitted about the cap so that water passing from the apertures 13 is directed down the walls of the skirt 14. An annular member 1-5 is used to space the skirt from the walls of the cap 7. The annular member and cap may be fixed in place, for example, using a suitable adhesive.

A non-return valve is preferably incorporated in the conduit 2 and may be provided, for example, using a bouyant ball 15 arranged to engage on a valve seat provided by the inclined. shoulders 16 formed by the restricted upper end 3 of the conduit 2.

In use the silencer is fitted to the outlet side of the float control valve as was above described and when the container in which the silencer is associated, for example, the water cistern is emptied, water will pass through the float valve and into the inlet -3 of the conduit 2. Water will pass downthe conduit 2 to the outlet 6 where the water pressure will generate sufficient force to deform the resilient abutment washer 11 so that the peripheral portions thereof are turned down allowing an annular jet of water to escape past the outlet 6 and into the annular chamber 9. The annular chamber will then be filled and the water pass out through the apertures 13 to be directed downwardly by the walls ofthe skirt 14.

It will be seen from the flow, path indicated in FIG. 3 that the water passing through the outlet past the abutment washer enters into a small chamber which is normally filled with water. The back pressure generated by the resilient abutment means together with the arrangement for the delivery of the jet of water past the abutment means ensures that water can flow into the container being filled with a minimum of noise. The skirt l4 minimizes the likelihood of noise being generated by water passing from the apertures 13 and impinging against some object in the tank thus again assists in filling the container with which the silencer is associated with a minimum of noise.

Because of the back pressure generated it is preferable to use a float valve which does not allow any water to escape except through the outlet 6.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes an abutment washer having a concave underside and arranged so that the washer itself would deform to allow water to escape therepast and into the small chamber normally filled with water. The abutment means must be resilient and is normally a resilient material such as a suitable rubber. However, a resiliently mounted member could be used if desired.

The preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the drawings has been particularly designed for use in water cisterns normally found in domestic toilets. The operation and principle of the invention could be applied to silence the flow of water delivered through the ordinary tap. The unit would need to be modified either to clamp over the outlet to an existing tap or to be incorporated into a tap itself.

With the present invention an adjustable back pressure can be created to ensure that water is delivered at an acceptable rate without causing flushing noises normally associated with theuse of valves or taps connected to a high pressure water supply.

What i claim is:

1'. A water flow silencing means for a flush tank ineluding a float valve, said silencing means comprising an elongated conduit means fitted to the float valve as normally installed in a flush tank and extending downwards into the tank, said conduit means having an upper end and a lower end, resilient valve means engagable with said lower end of said conduit means to close same, cup-shaped cap means having an upper end axially adjustably secured to the exterior of said conduit means intermediate the ends of said conduit means to define an annular chamber of variable volume surrounding the lower portion of said conduit means, said cap means including portions engaging said resilient valve means to press the same against the lower end of said conduit means with a predetermined pressure depending on the axial adjustment of the securement of said cap means to said conduit means, whereby said resilient valve means produces an adjustable back-pressure in said conduit means relative to said adjustment, and aperture means defined in said cap means for flow of water out of said annular chamber.

2. A water flow silencing means as claimed in claim 1 wherein said portions of said cap means comprise protuberance means defined on the inner surface of the end face of said cap means beneath said lower end of said conduit means, said resilient valve means comprising a resilient washer means titted over said protuberance means andbeing larger than said protuberance means to define peripheral portions which are deformed downwardlyunder pressure to allow an annular' jet of water to pass from said conduitmeans into said annular chamber.

3. A waterflow silencing means as claimed in claim 2, wherein a threaded boss is provided on the exterior of said conduit means intermediate its ends and said upper end of said cap means includes a female thread engageable with said threaded boss over an extended length to thereby provide said axially adjustable securement and to controlthe back pressure which may be generated by said resilient washer means,

4. A water flow silencing means as claimed in claim 3, further including a skirt means fixed about said cap means so thatwater passing from said aperture means in said cap means is directed downwardly by said skirt means.

5. A water flow silencing means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper end of said conduit means includes a restricted orifice defined by converging shoulder means forming a valve seat, and a floating spherical valve member in said conduit means engagable with said valve seat upon any backflow of water through said conduit means.

6. A water flow silencing means as claimed in claim 1, further including threaded means surrounding said upper end of said conduit means to engage with a threaded aperture from an outlet chamber of the float valve normally fitted in the flush tank. 

1. A water flow silencing means for a flush tank including a float valve, said silencing means comprising an elongated conduit means fitted to the float valve as normally installed in a flush tank and extending downwards into the tank, said conduit means having an upper end and a lower end, resilient valve means engagable with said lower end of said conduit means to close same, cup-shaPed cap means having an upper end axially adjustably secured to the exterior of said conduit means intermediate the ends of said conduit means to define an annular chamber of variable volume surrounding the lower portion of said conduit means, said cap means including portions engaging said resilient valve means to press the same against the lower end of said conduit means with a predetermined pressure depending on the axial adjustment of the securement of said cap means to said conduit means, whereby said resilient valve means produces an adjustable back-pressure in said conduit means relative to said adjustment, and aperture means defined in said cap means for flow of water out of said annular chamber.
 2. A water flow silencing means as claimed in claim 1 wherein said portions of said cap means comprise protuberance means defined on the inner surface of the end face of said cap means beneath said lower end of said conduit means, said resilient valve means comprising a resilient washer means fitted over said protuberance means and being larger than said protuberance means to define peripheral portions which are deformed downwardly under pressure to allow an annular jet of water to pass from said conduit means into said annular chamber.
 3. A waterflow silencing means as claimed in claim 2, wherein a threaded boss is provided on the exterior of said conduit means intermediate its ends and said upper end of said cap means includes a female thread engageable with said threaded boss over an extended length to thereby provide said axially adjustable securement and to control the back pressure which may be generated by said resilient washer means.
 4. A water flow silencing means as claimed in claim 3, further including a skirt means fixed about said cap means so thatwater passing from said aperture means in said cap means is directed downwardly by said skirt means.
 5. A water flow silencing means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper end of said conduit means includes a restricted orifice defined by converging shoulder means forming a valve seat, and a floating spherical valve member in said conduit means engagable with said valve seat upon any backflow of water through said conduit means.
 6. A water flow silencing means as claimed in claim 1, further including threaded means surrounding said upper end of said conduit means to engage with a threaded aperture from an outlet chamber of the float valve normally fitted in the flush tank. 